Fenzi Dog Sports Academy - AG140: Building and Maintaining A Start Line

Course Details

Many dogs begin their agility careers with a solid start line - only to see that behavior slowly unravel over time. Why does a reliable start line hold up for some dogs but not others? Why do some teams struggle, even when the dogs were trained the same way and handled by the same person?

In this class, you’ll learn how to build a consistent start line behavior from the ground up. And, just as importantly, how to maintain it throughout your dog’s agility career. We’ll address not only the dog’s training, but also the handler’s skills, timing, and pre-run routine that support a confident, consistent start line.

Agility training often places heavy emphasis on running sequences, while overlooking the foundational skills that happen before the dog ever leaves the line. This class fills that gap by focusing on the dog’s understanding, the handler’s clarity, and the habits that set both of you up for success before the run begins.

This content is ideal for young dogs who have not yet started trialing, as well as for experienced dogs struggling with start line issues in competition. To effectively address start line problems, handlers should plan to stop trialing while working through the material in this class.

In the end, you’ll have a clearer understanding of why start lines fail, how to prevent common issues, and how to create a start line behavior that is reliable and built to last.

Small dogs can also be trained to do long lead-outs, despite what you see at the agility trials. Here is an example of my (then) 19-month-old Chihuahua mix, who was trained with this method (as with my big dogs) and has a lovely lead-out.

Listen to a previous podcast about this class:

https://www.fenzidogsportsacademy.com/blog/e323-nancy-gagliardi-little-startlines-under-stress

Teaching Approach

This class takes a step-by-step approach to building the skills needed for a start line behavior. Each step will have written instructions. Most steps will have at least one corresponding video. Lectures are released in one batch at the beginning of the week. Feedback will be mainly written, but occasionally, voiceover videos help the student understand subtle changes that are difficult to describe.

This class will have a Teacher's Assistant (TA) available in the study group to help the Bronze and Silver students! Directions will be in the classroom after you register.

Instructor: Nancy Gagliardi Little

Nancy Gagliardi Little (she/her) has been training dogs since the early 1980s, when she put an OTCH on her Novice A dog, a Labrador retriever. Since then she has put many advanced obedience titles on her dogs, including 4 AKC OTCH titles, 6 UD titles, 3 UDX titles, and multiple...(Click here for full bio and to view Nancy's upcoming courses)

Syllabus

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Week 1

Where it goes wrong
Station training
Freeze in Position (Offered Stay)
Clean Verbal Cues & Event Markers
Work Away from Rewards (Remote Reinforcement)

Week 2

Start line issues
The Stay
Introduction of the Release Cue
Handling the Release Without the Dog
Training the Release from the Station
Handling the Release from a Station
Focus Evaluation Procedure

Week 3

Reset Start
Positions
Training and Handling Release from a Station (continued)
Work Away from Reinforcement - Add Transitions and Work

Week 4

Release from Position
Setup at the start line
Leash On and Off Procedure
Station Training - Distractions

Week 5

Lead-out/Release from the Setup
Moving to the first obstacle
Work Away from Reinforcement - Toys
Work Away from Reinforcement - Add a Ring Entrance

Week 6

Putting it all together
Testing the Start line (delays, changing setup position, changing handler position etc)
Ring Exit Strategy (this affects your ring entry)

Prerequisites & Supplies

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Prerequisite: None

Equipment:

Jump (this will be set low)

(Optional) Prop or platform to aid in position training

This prop can help your dog learn how to assume the desired position (sit, down, stand) when you set your dog up. This will be helpful if you want to line your dog on your left or right side. It is not required, and we can work around it. But if you want a nice, precise setup, it can be helpful.

If you already have a good setup, or if you want your dog to start between your legs, you won't need anything. If you don't know what you need, we can discuss this in class.

A portable dog cot or any type of portable station.

Dog mats or beds that lie flat on the ground cannot be used to teach stationing behavior during this class. You will need a cot or some type of elevated surface that has a distinct boundary. The surface should allow the dog to comfortably stand and turn around.

The portable/fold-up Carlson cot has worked well for my dogs. I use the large for my medium dogs. It's much larger than they need, but I love the portability. It is also very reasonably priced. If you have a powerful dog, you might want to consider a more expensive model built to handle an abrupt exit from the station.

Here's another portable cot by Regalo that is sold through Chewy: https://www.chewy.com/regalo-my-cot-portable-elevated-dog/dp/1201558

There are some nice cots that are made for kids in daycare. If you do a search for "daycare cots" in your browser, you can find examples of these.

Other favorites are the Cato Board: https://catooutdoors.com/. The Cato Board is a very stable outdoor platform designed specifically for dog sports. It can be used in all weather and is supported, so it doesn't move when your dog gets on or off the board. Some dogs initially have trouble with the Cato boards because they are so close to the ground, making it easy for the dog to step off.

The 4 Legs 4 Pets cots: https://www.4legs4pets.com/. These are also sturdy, stackable cots. However, they are lower to the ground and might cause issues when the dog steps off, as I described in the paragraph above on the Cato Board.

The Klimb with a mat to prevent slipping is okay as long as it is stable for your dog. There should be enough room for your dog to stand and turn around comfortably.

Other options are cushions from a couch, an ottoman, an aerobic step, or any object your dog can stand on comfortably.

There is no required position on the station.

If you aren't sure about what to use or have any further questions, please ask.

Toy (can be a food toy)

For dogs motivated by toys, a toy that can be thrown or placed as a reinforcement.

If your dog prefers food, then you will need a food toy that can be thrown.

Examples of food toys: https://www.cleanrun.com/category/dog_toys_and_tugs/food_stuffable_agility_training_dog_toys/index.cfm

Lotus ball small: https://www.cleanrun.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=product.display&product_ID=3098&ParentCat=132

Lotus ball medium: https://www.cleanrun.com/product/medium_lotus_ball_dog_toy/index.cfm?ParentCat=22

Treat hugger: https://www.cleanrun.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=product.display&product_ID=5087&ParentCat=132

https://www.amazon.com/Clean-Run-Hugger-Treat-Dispensing-Fleece/dp/B07DF8NWSY/

Sample Lecture

Strong start

If your dog's start line performance started strong and then fell apart, how did that happen? If you have a dog who hasn't competed and you want to train a brilliant start line, how can you make sure the behavior doesn't fall apart?

Reinforcing behavior

Behaviors increase and become stronger when they are reinforced. Reinforcement occurs when the dog accesses something they find valuable (for example, food or toys). Reinforcement can also occur when the dog performs a behavior that has a strong value (based on a long history of reinforcement). For example, when your dog accesses a highly valued obstacle after performing a skill (like the start line), all of the previous behaviors are reinforced by the execution of that obstacle. So, you can reinforce your dog's start line by releasing it to perform the first obstacle (if that obstacle has value for the dog).

The reverse also comes into play. You can build a history of unwanted behaviors when you repeatedly cue forward momentum or allow your dog to continue to access obstacles after your dog performs unwanted behaviors. Some of these can be accidental. But when you allow your dog to form undesirable habits, they will get practiced and can even become stronger in that environment. That's why so many dogs perform differently at the trials. The environment serves as a cue for the dog to behave differently.

There is also an emotional component in play. If there is stress or confusion, skills will get weak or disappear altogether. It's a complicated behavior chain that needs to be unraveled to clear up confusion for individual dog and handler teams.

Because it can be tricky to reward your dog's start line performance in a trial, you must work hard to expose your dog's trained routine to many environments and distractions. In an environment with many distractions (trials), your dog's performance will be tested. However, if the training has also been tested and the handling and the release cue are clear to your dog, then those new situations won't be an issue. As long as new environments and distractions are gradually layered into your dog's experience with plenty of success, then your dog will eventually handle distractions that seemed impossible in the past.

For the love of agility

Most dogs that do agility LOVE the sport. Training the obstacles and sequences with positive reinforcement creates a strong desire to interact with them. Going to the next "thing" becomes a highly valued reward for the dog. However, if you and your dog are not communicating well (your cues are not clear), both of you will be frustrated. The lack of communication will deteriorate your dog's start line stay - maybe without you even recognizing the first signs. For example, your dog's behavior might start to change in classes or trials under certain conditions when:

You feel rushed,
You disconnect from your dog (thinking about the sequence ahead or talking to your instructor),
You are unaware of the signals or movements that your dog associates with the release,
You are unaware of patterns that unintentionally predict a release

Also, stress or frustration can cause issues, creating a negative conditioned emotional response in your dog at the start line. And when that happens, you no longer have a dog that can think clearly. Anything can happen!!

What causes behavior to deteriorate?

Here are some examples of handler behavior that can cause a good start line behavior to deteriorate:

Attempt to control the dog's behavior. Examples:
- Backing up or facing the dog while leading out.
- Repeating the stay cue while leading out
- Physically placing the dog into position (i.e., pushing the rear down, etc.)
- Overly demanding or punitive stay-cue tone.
Being disconnected or distracted.
Unintentionally using predictable patterns (examples: two steps then release; handler looks at the dog then releases) when you release your dog. Those patterns end up becoming the release cue instead of the intended verbal cue.
Pairing the verbal release cue with motion (example: reaching towards the dog with a hand at the same time the verbal cue is given, moving forward at the same time the verbal release cue is given)
Showing disappointment and negative emotions - even when it's not directed towards the dog.

Conclusion

Your dog learns the start line routine pattern that you create - intentionally or unintentionally. This pattern starts from the time you walk into the ring until your dog leaves the start line. As each of these behaviors progresses, it is rewarded by continuing with the subsequent behavior. It ends up being a robust behavior chain that builds and gains momentum. If any unwanted behaviors occur along the way, they are also built into the routine.

Unfortunately, most of these patterns go unnoticed until the dog is displaying many unwanted behaviors, including leaving the start line before the handler's intended release cue is given. To solve these issues, you have to break things down and rebuild a different set of behaviors with clear cues.

Testimonials & Reviews

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A sampling of what prior students have said about this course ...

Nancy, thank you! You are AMAZING! This course has been a game-changer for us. Training is always a work in progress and we've been working on so much for so long. This course has helped us with more than just a start line. Other things were recently starting to come together for us as well, but they were highlighted by your methodical exercises in this course. For example, I can confidently put Tito in a sit and walk away to put a jump in a different position and I "know" he will stay. I can confidently use toys in training, without over arousal issues, and know that I haven't invited Tito to engage in a "party of 1", but rather OUR "party of 2". I am now seeing a dog that wants to play this "start line" game and be rewarded by being able to go. I can "repeat" exercises without him stressing that he did something wrong. I have increased confidence in him and most importantly, he has increased confidence in me. Thank you for all your help and observations. It has been a pleasure!

Awesome class! Nancy's step by step method of training a start line from its most rudimentary elements to the "finish" line leaves her students with clarity and consistency that builds on itself throughout the course. Her quick and frequent responses to videos and questions paints the picture for helping each individual team with kindness and respect regardless of their present level of training and understanding. Her keen eye and suggestions are complemented with her understanding of canine behavior and emotions to show the full picture of what's going on. Students not only learn her method of training a start line but they grow in understanding of their dogs and how to work through and support each individual dog in training. Our team has benefited tangibly and intangibly from everything Nancy has taught. Nancy is a wealth of information, experience, and expertise. It's been a game changer for us! Thank you!

Nancy is an excellent instructor. Her attention to detail, the speed which she moves forward to achieve a goal is stunning. Her strategies in training, seminars, groups class work. The ultimate challenge will be when we trial!!!

This is the BEST class I have ever taken (even outside of Fenzi). This class should be a prerequisite for anyone doing agility! Until taking Nancy's class, I didn't realize that my handler mechanics were the root cause of my issues. I have now become obsessed with clean markers and not pairing the onset of movement with a verbal cue. I love how she broke the whole routine down into tiny components.

Let's just say we got 26 points and two QQs this past weekend. That may not sound like much to an agility superstar but to a team that typically eeks out a few points in STD and often doesn't double Q because we are a few seconds over time in JWW, it was HUGE! Did I mention we used our newly developed start line procedure in each of the four runs (and praise and blind crosses but no cheerleading :))? We clearly have more work to do but I feel that we are headed in the right direction! Many thanks to Nancy for her guidance and leadership in getting us to this point. Sally & Reese

It was a wonderful class and I will recommend it to my friends. Nancy is extremely knowledgeable and very kind and informative in her comments to the students.

Nancy is knowledgeable, thorough, and willing to change things up based on the individual needs of each dog/handler team. I know this takes a lot of dedicated time and thoughtfulness on her part, and it is greatly appreciated.

This was an excellent class. I wish I had been able to take at Silver or Gold. I might retake at a higher level.

I am a great proponent of online learning (for a variety of reasons) but mainly because it allows me to work at my own pace with a purpose in mind. The Gold level classes definitely accomplish this in addition, to making it a priority to recieve communication/feedback with the instructor. No where has it been done better for me than with Nancy Little and this class (and Glue for Future Agility Stars :). The feedback is timely, spot on, and is designed to bring out the best in each dog team. She does this by breaking down into tiny pieces FOUNDATION--Im going to say it again, FOUNDATION. Without which, dog teams might initially be ok but will eventually break down and will never reach the heights they could have with it. Nancy understands this and knows how to scaffold the lessons in a way that best aids the adult learner in executing those lessons successfully with their dog. More importantly, I believe that Nancy goes above and beyond in her feedback because she believes passionately in what she is teaching and in what she wants us to accomplish as students. I would highly recommend this class to anyone doing dog sports. Penny Reedy

My learning and my dogs learning was phenomenal . We have always had a hard time with lead-outs. At first they were great and then as we advanced in other areas of agility my dog broke all start line lead-outs. No one could advice us on how to fix our problem(s) except to say "practice." . From the start, the impulse games began to change my dog's attitude in good ways. Using a dog cot made the training fun and very successful. My learning to keep my eyes on the dog was a game changer for me, as well as learning to be still and count to three. In fact in class now he has had some wonderful controlled lead-outs that have awed me. My live instructor was impressed he had advanced so much. Thank you! Nancy's instructions were very clear, and the step by step approach in each lesson made them easy to follow, and practice and have success! I love my new dog, well he is not new, but seems that way now with his start line skills.

Registration

Next session starts: April 1, 2026
Registration starts: March 22, 2026
Registration ends: April 15, 2026

Registration opens at 9:30am Pacific Time.

SILVER LEVEL Testing Project for April 2026 - In this session students will be permitted to submit ONE 90 second video per week when registered at the silver level. All "your dog" specific questions must be accompanied by video so the instructor can assess video and questions together. Silver students may also ask generic questions and participate in discussion forum threads.

AG140 Subscriptions

	Gold	Silver	Bronze
Tuition	$ 260.00	$ 130.00	$ 65.00
Enrollment Limits	12	25	Unlimited
Access all course lectures and materials	✔	✔	✔
Access to discussion and homework forums	✔	✔	✔
Read all posted questions and answers	✔	✔	✔
Watch all posted videos	✔	✔	✔
Post general questions to Discussion forum	✔	✔	✖
Submit written assignments	✔	✖	✖
Post dog specific questions	✔	With video only	✖
Post videos	✔	Up to 2	✖
Receive instructor feedback on	Questions All videos	Questions All videos	✖

Find more details, refund policies and answers to common questions in the Help center.

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AG140: Building and Maintaining A Start Line

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